Program

• Governor Gavin Newsom announced nine new television projects to launch the second year of California’s expanded tax credit program. • The slate includes high-profile dramas and reboots, such as a new version of *The Rockford Files* starring David Boreanaz, *Ascent* with Viola Davis, and *Newlyweds* with Jamie Lee Curtis. • The initiative aims to strengthen the local economy and sustain the state's creative workforce by incentivizing productions to film within California.

• Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Monday that nine new television productions have been selected for California's film and television tax credit program. • The state's office estimates that these specific awards will generate over $600 million in production spending within the local economy. • This initiative matters as it aims to incentivize production companies to keep their projects in California rather than relocating to other states or countries.

• Governor Gavin Newsom has directed state agencies to establish a new AI Cyber Defense Program to protect California's critical infrastructure and local governments. • The initiative builds upon the state's 2023 and 2026 Executive Orders on Artificial Intelligence to strengthen cybersecurity coordination across government. • The program aims to counter increasingly fast and sophisticated cyberattacks that threaten essential public systems and family services.

• The ASEAN Film Festival 2026 will run from 20 August to 27 September, featuring its largest program to date with over 30 films and free screenings. • The event opens with the Philippines' "Song of the Fireflies" and marks the first-ever participation of Timor-Leste, alongside entries from other ASEAN nations and guests from China and Hong Kong. • The diverse lineup includes titles such as Thailand's "SuckSeed," Singapore's "881," and Indonesia's "Jumbo," aiming to bridge cultures through storytelling and music-themed dramas.

• The National Science Foundation (NSF) has launched a $100 million program designed to expand regional AI research infrastructure across the United States. • The initiative will initially fund 10 AI infrastructure hubs, which are encouraged to integrate their operations with existing national AI resource centers. • This investment aims to democratize access to high-performance computing and AI tools, ensuring regional research centers can compete and innovate.

• Early-stage startups in Eastern Europe are accessing grants, accelerators, and funding trends as of August 2026 to increase market traction. • Founders are utilizing these programs to secure professional guidance, investor connections, and streamlined entry points into larger European markets. • Key hubs for growth include Germany, the Netherlands, Estonia, Portugal, and Switzerland, which offer strong business environments and talent pools.

• In 2026, NASA successfully flew astronauts around the Moon for the first time in over fifty years, marking a major milestone in human space exploration. • Simultaneously, the White House proposed some of the deepest budget cuts in the agency's history, specifically targeting science and climate research programs. • The proposed cuts would disproportionately impact robotic probes and telescopes, which are the most cost-effective tools for NASA's scientific discoveries.